Why can this page load if my internet is broken?
"Online" is rarely a single switch. Your browser can reach OnlineCheck while Slack stays grey, Zoom freezes, or DNS quietly fails for one domain. The check is built to spot that split.
Online
OnlineCheck
Am I online? Check instantly.
This page loaded, so your browser reached at least one place on the internet. That is not the whole story. OnlineCheck measures the timing, tries a few common public destinations, and pulls the network hints your browser will share.
ReadyLast check —
The quick check starts automatically.
Latency to quick probe
—
Open full checkBrowser signal: —
You loaded this page, so technically yes. Let's see how well.
Honest connection checks
If this loaded, you are partly online.
What does OnlineCheck actually test?
It sends a few small requests, times them, downloads one short payload, pokes a handful of public destinations, and reads whatever the browser is willing to tell us about the network.
What should I do with the result?
Look at the labels and decide what to try next: rerun on a hotspot, sit out a service outage, or paste the summary into a ticket so support has something concrete to read.
Run sequence
What happens when you run it
The full check starts on its own and puts a label next to every number. It is upfront about what a browser-side test can and cannot prove.
- 01
Open the check
It starts on its own. A rerun button is there for when you change networks or want a second look.
- 02
Read the verdict
You see whether the browser reached OnlineCheck, Google, Cloudflare, and GitHub, plus what the timing actually implies for calls and apps.
Honest about its limits
A loaded page is not the same thing as a healthy connection. OnlineCheck shows what your browser can actually prove from where it is sitting.
Plain bands, not raw numbers
Latency, jitter, download response, and reachability results get plain-English labels. You see "good", "fair", or "poor" next to the millisecond count.
No account, no signup
Just open the page and read the result. Public IP and ISP context only appears if an IPinfo token is configured.
What OnlineCheck checks
Timing, reachability, and the context support asks for
Run OnlineCheck before you reset the router or open a ticket. It stays narrow on purpose: current browser connectivity, timing, public destinations, and available network hints.
- Local probe
- Confirms this browser can still pull a small file from OnlineCheck itself.
- Timing
- Records average latency, min/max, jitter, and a short download to see how the connection actually behaves.
- Reachability
- Tries Google, Cloudflare, and GitHub from your browser so you can see if the problem is isolated or broad.
- Network context
- Shows browser-reported network hints. Public IP and ASN appear only when IPinfo is configured.
When to use OnlineCheck
Use it when the internet is not simply on or off. A few labelled checks beat one more generic speed number.
- A Zoom call keeps freezing, but the rest of the web feels fine.
- GitHub loads but Google Docs does not, or the other way around.
- Support asks whether the problem is your device, your ISP, or the service itself.
- You just switched from Wi-Fi to a hotspot and want a clean before-and-after.
Common problems
Start with the symptom
Each page catches a common way people describe a half-working connection and points back to the live check.
Wi-Fi connected, but no internet access?
Check whether your Wi-Fi is only connected locally or whether the wider internet is reachable.
Why does it say I'm offline?
Learn why apps can show you as offline even when your browser still loads websites.
Latency explained: what is a good ping?
Understand latency, jitter, and what ping numbers mean for browsing, calls, games, and streaming.
Am I online on my phone?
Use OnlineCheck on mobile data or Wi-Fi to see whether your phone can reach the internet right now.
DNS not resolving?
Check whether name resolution or reachability may be why some sites load and others fail.
FAQ
Questions about half-working internet
Can OnlineCheck prove I am online?
Only that this browser reached the probe targets during the test. That is a useful data point, but it does not guarantee every app or service is healthy for you right now.
Is OnlineCheck a speed test?
No. The download number is a quick sanity check, not a bandwidth benchmark. If you need a precise speed measurement, run a dedicated speed test.
Does OnlineCheck require an account?
No. There is no sign-in and no profile. The optional IP and ISP details only appear when the site is configured with an IPinfo token.
Why check Google, Cloudflare, and GitHub?
They are big, well-known destinations on different networks. When one responds and another does not, it usually says more about your route than about those services.
Troubleshooting guides
Start with symptoms, not jargon
Short, plain-English guides for cases where a connection is technically online but still unusable.
Browse guides
Frozen calls, split reachability, and what to send support when the internet half-works.
Last updated / May 23, 2026
About OnlineCheck
OnlineCheck is built for the moment the internet half-works. Some pages open, a call freezes, and someone in support wants proof. It is a small browser tool, not a speed-test suite.
This started after one too many flaky hotel Wi-Fi calls. The goal is small: a quick answer you can actually understand, and something concrete to paste into a support thread.
Need help or have a feature request? Email us at hello@onlinecheck.net.